Wisconsin to Receive First Shipment Of Moderna Vaccine

MADISON,WI — Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), announced Wisconsin is expecting shipments of the Moderna vaccine to begin arriving at hospitals and clinics across the state this week. The initial shipment is expected to be 16,000 doses, with state health officials planning to receive a total of 100,000 doses in the upcoming weeks, according to a news release.

The Moderna vaccine can be stored in normal freezers, which allows the vaccine to be shipped directly across Wisconsin.

“Folks, this is exciting news. The COVID-19 vaccine is an important tool we need to battle this pandemic,” said Gov. Evers. “While we do not have control over how much vaccine the federal government allocates to our state, I can promise that we are doing everything we can to ensure that our distribution is fair and equitable.”

Gov. Evers and DHS activated the federal government's long-term care pharmacy distribution program to provide on-site vaccination for Wisconsin’s long-term care residents and staff. A portion, 29,000 doses, of the Moderna allocation will be reserved in order to begin vaccinating Wisconsinites in this program. The program is set to begin on Dec. 28.

The DHS asks people to continue to practice preventive measures such as staying home, wearing a mask and keeping physical distance.

The U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) issued the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Friday. Moderna, alongside Pfizer, are the first two COVID-19 vaccines to be authorized by the FDA.